1998 GMC Jimmy Owner Complaints

AFTER GETTING AN OIL CHANGE I WAS INFORMED OF A LEAK IN MY OIL PAN, AS I GOT HOME THE NEXT MORNING I NOTICED THAT MY CAR LEAKED OUT ALL THE OIL IN THE CAR RESULTING FROM A FAULT O-RING SEAL, ALSO NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION AS MY IDLER ARM IS ABOUT TO SNAP AT ANY MOMENT RESULTING IN THE LOSE OF STEERING FOR THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC BEFORE I PURCHASED IT AND ONLY ONE BUSHING WAS REPLACED INSTEAD OF ALL OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME, ALSO THE MECHANIC IMPROPERLY REPLACED THE FRONT SHOCKS AS INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE GREASE BEARINGS THE MECHANIC USED BOLTS TO ASSEMBLE AND HOLD THEM IN PLACE RESULTING IN AN ANNOYING SQEAK IN THE FRONT END OF THE CAR SINCE THE SHOCKS CANT BE PROPERLY GREASED AS THERE ARE NOT GREASE FITTINGS.

NHTSA ID

10861420

Incident

Mar 28, 2016

Mileage

10 mi

THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND LEFT THE PARKING LOT, STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, PROCEEDED INTO THE ROADWAY AND ENGINE DIED. EVERYTHING WENT OFF - ALL POWER ALL ELECTRICAL. I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE SECOND HAND AND THE OWNER TOLD ME LATER THAT SHE HAD BATTERY PROBLEMS, BUT SHE PUT IN A NEW BATTERY. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIX IT. MY HUSBAND FIGURED IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. I KEPT THE CAR FOR TWELVE YEARS AND HAD TO CHANGE IT TWICE, PLUS THE INITIAL REPAIR WAS WARRANTIED. WHEN IT FIRST OCCURRED IN 2000 I LOOKED FOR A RECALL, BUT THERE WAS NONE. I REMEMBER THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD A VERY LARGE KEYCHAIN, AND WE DID FIGURE OUT ON OUR OWN TO CARRY A SINGLE KEY, BUT AFTER ABOUT 5-6 YEARS YOU STILL NEED TO CHANGE THE IGNITION, YOU CAN TELL CAUSE THE ELECTRONICS START GOING WACKY IN THE VEHICLE. THEN IT WON'T START, LIKE YOU THINK ITS THE BATTERY. IT IS SAD THAT PEOPLE DIED FROM THIS AND THAT GMC CANNOT ADMIT THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON, I KNOW SINCE 1998. I NOW KNOW WHY I GOT SUCH A GOOD DEAL ON THE VEHICLE, THAT PERSON COULD HAVE KILLED ME, BY NOT TELLING ME THE TRUTH! *TR

NHTSA ID

10569220

Incident

Jun 20, 2000

Mileage

18,000 mi

I HAVE A GMC JIMMY THAT IS EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE DASHBOARD FAILURES. WHEN I FILL THE GAS TANK THE GAUGE GOES TO EMPTY, THEN WHEN I DRIVE A WHILE IT GOES TO FULL AND THEN BACK TO EMPTY. I NEVER HAVE A PARTIALLY FULL READING. ALSO THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES OFF AND ON. MY OIL PRESSURE GAUGE REVES UP AND DOWN LIKE I AM OUT OF OIL. I PULL OFF THE ROAD AND CHECK AND THE OIL IS FINE. I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS. I TOOK IT TO THE GM DEALER AND THEY WANT MORE THAN I CAN AFFORD JUST TO LOOK AT IT AND CAN'T GUARANTEE ANYTHING. I DID PAY $85 TO PUT IT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTER BUT THIS NEVER SHOWED UP. PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID

10418301

Incident

Jul 15, 2011

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE HOIST THAT HELD THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WAS CORRODED AND CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO DISENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING; HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND STATED THE SPARE TIRE HOIST WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10410504

Incident

Jul 1, 2011

Mileage

105,000 mi

ABS ACTIVATES AT OR BELOW 5MPH ON DRY ROADS/PAVEMENT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP VEHICLE. OCCURS OFTEN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT STOP SIGNS/LIGHTS OR PARKING AREAS POSING DANGER TO OTHER VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10346976

Incident

Jun 1, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK WHEN ACTIVATED. THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED EXTREMELY LIMITED VISIBILITY AND HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE RAIN SLACKED UP BEFORE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 141,000.

NHTSA ID

10269740

Incident

May 21, 2009

Mileage

141,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING A 1998GMC JIMMY FROM OKLAHOMA CITY, OK TO WALTERS, OK. EVERYTHING WAS GREAT AND THE CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECTLY. I WAS ON THE HE BAILEY TURNPIKE ON HIGHWAY MARKER 30 - I COULD SEE THE SIGN AND PULL OFF FOR THE FAXON EXIT AND THE BIG SIGN FOR WALTERS. A FEW WISPS OF WHITE SMOKE APPEARED AND THEN HEAVY GREY SMOKE STARTED TO BILLOW INTO MY FACE THROUGH THE RIGHT SIDE VENT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I STARTED TO COUGH AND COULDN'T SEE SO I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AS I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, I PULLED THE HOOD RELEASE AND RAN TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLES. UNDER THE HOOD, HALF OF THE ENGINE BAY WAS ALREADY BURNED AWAY - LIKE THE BOTTLE FOR ANTI-FREEZE AND HOSES.... THE WHOLE ENGINE BAY WAS ON FIRE. THE CAR WAS GONE AT THAT POINT - THERE WAS NO WAY TO SAVE IT. I RAN TO THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT AND GRABBED A BASKET THAT HAD MY CENSUS ID AND I THREW IT AWAY FROM THE CAR. I GRABBED SOME CDS THEN TOO, BUT THEY WERE ON FIRE. THE DASH WAS ON FIRE AND WAS SPREADING INTO THE FRONT SEAT. I THREW THE CDS IN THE DIRT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. I GRABBED THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OF THE BACK SEAT AND GRABBED A HAMPER WITH PRESENTS FOR MY DAUGHTER. I RAN TO THE OTHER SIDE BACK SEAT AND GRABBED THE LEGAL PAPERS OF CENSUS APPLICANTS - THEY WERE ON FIRE AND I SNUFFED OUT THE FIRE IN THE DIRT. I GRABBED MY JEAN JACKET WITH MY MILITARY ID AND DRIVER'S LICENSE - THE BACK SEAT AND FRONT SEAT WERE ON FIRE AND I RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT FIREBALLED AND EXPLODED. TWO MEN FROM THE TURNPIKE MAINTENANCE SAW ME DRIVING - SMOKING POURING OUT FRONT HE VEHICLE; THEY SAW ME PULL OUT ON THE SHOULDER AND SAW ME RUNNING TO SALVAGE WHAT I COULD FROM THE BURNING VEHICLE. THEY CAME TO HELP ME AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HIGHWAY PATROL. MINOR INJURIES I HAD SMOKE INHALATION, MINOR BURNS TO FACE - SOOT ON HANDS & FEET. UNK MILEAGE. 1ST SOLD 12/31/97 BOUGHT FROM ORG OWNER 1/19/09 THESE ARE PICS HTTP://S229.PHOTOBUCKET.COM/ALBUMS/EE16/GFERCAKS33/MOM%20CAR/. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261354

Incident

Mar 5, 2009

FRONTAL ACCIDENT TO MY 1998 JIMMY AT 35 MPH. EXTENSIVE FRONT DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. NO AIR BAG CODES EVERYTHING WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. BOTH POLICE OFFICERS AGREED THAT WITH THE TYPE OF ACCIDENT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. BECAUSE OF NO DEPLOYMENT I WAS INJURED AND HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF MY INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10241611

Incident

Aug 9, 2008

Mileage

134,000 mi

DRIVE AN 1998 GMC JIMMY WITH AROUND 172,000 MILES ON IT (I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF MILES). HAD THE LOCAL GM DEALER WORK ON MY REAR DEFROSTER (ONE OF THE CLIPS FELL OFF). AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE DEALER I TURNED MY DEFROSTER ON ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER. THE BACK WINDOW EXPLODED LIKE A SHOTGUN AFTER ABOUT 15-20 SECONDS. DEALER SAYS REAR DEFROSTER VOLTAGE REGULATOR MUST HAVE WENT BAD. I ARGUED THAT A FUSE SHOULD HAD BLOWN BEFORE AN EXPLOSION TOOK PLACE. GM COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT ALSO DISAGREES, SAYING THAT THE VEHICLE IS OLD AND THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS STANDING BY THE REAR WINDOW WHEN IT EXPLODED BECAUSE IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE KILLED THEM. IF I'M WRONG TELL ME I'M WRONG BUT I BELIEVE GM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NO ONLY REPLACING THE WINDOW BUT FIXING THE REAR DEFROSTER VOLTAGE REGULATOR. I HOPE THIS IS AN ISOLATED CASE BUT MAYBE BY REPORTING THIS I CAN PREVENT SOMEONE FROM GETTING HURT (INCLUDING A GM TECHNICIAN). *TR

NHTSA ID

10234072

Incident

Jun 15, 2008

Mileage

172,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 15 MPH DOWN A STEEP, WET ROAD, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE BUMPER AND HEADLAMPS WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE BODY SHOP AND WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AN ABS DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V218000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE DEALER INFORMATION WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 113,000.

NHTSA ID

10211052

Incident

Dec 5, 2007

Mileage

113,000 mi

THE ENGINE CONTINUALLY MISFIRES. THERE IS A TSB BULLETIN #00-06-04-003B. DEPOSIT BUILDUP ON POPPED VALVE BALL &/OR SEAT, CAUSING IT TO STICK. THERE IS A RECALL BECAUSE OF THIS BUT ONLY IN CALIFORNIA. I LIVE IN ALASKA. I GOT AN ESTIMATE OF $1200 BUCKS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF THIS, I ONLY GET 5-7 MPG, AND HAVE LITTLE POWER. ALSO, MY ABS LIGHT TURNS ON AND THE ABS ACTIVATES AT LOW SPEEDS ON DRY GROUND. MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS TOTALLY MESSED UP. MY RIGHT CLICKER JUST THE SOUND NOT LIGHT) GOES OFF WHEN DRIVING. IT IS COMPLETELY ERRATIC AND UNPREDICTABLE. MY SPEAKERS TURN OFF AND ON SPORADICALLY. *AK MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT ADJUSTER BROKE OFF WITH LITTLE PRESSURE. MY STEERING WHEEL CONTINUOUSLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT. THIS MANY PROBLEMS IN A VEHICLE IS RIDICULOUS. WHAT A LEMON. ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE SEEN THE SAME EXACT COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THIS SIGHT ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10187266

Incident

Feb 21, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT REAR BRAKELINE CRACKED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THEY WOULD NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A SERVICE DEALER BECAUSE THE REPAIR WORK WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRACTURED BRAKELINE WAS VISIBLE.

NHTSA ID

10172887

Incident

Sep 1, 2006

Mileage

122,000 mi

KEY GETS LOCKED IN THE IGNITION AND I CAN'T REMOVE IT, THE DASH LIGHTS AND GAUGES DO NOT WORK AND TRANSMISSION DOESN'T START OFF IN 1ST GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 OTHER TIMES AND EVERYTIME I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AND THIS IS IN A 3 YEAR PERIOD. THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE WORTH PROBLEM ON THESE VEHICLES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10172675

Incident

Oct 19, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE SPARE TIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE FELL OFF DUE TO A RUSTY CABLE. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED. UPDATED 10/18/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10167479

Incident

Sep 1, 2006

Mileage

139,000 mi

TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD LIGHT FAILURE, ELECTRIC WINDOW CONTROL FAILURE OFF AND ON. *NM

NHTSA ID

10155809

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

VEHICLE CONSTANTLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT. HAS PULLED TO THE RIGHT SINCE BOUGHT. ACCORDING TO OTHER COMPLAINTS, ALIGNMENT WILL NOT FIX PROBLEM EITHER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10154855

Incident

Jan 22, 2003

Mileage

99,305 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR ALIGNMENT. THE REPAIR PERSONNEL DISCOVERED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT. THE PROBLEM RETURNED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES, BUT ONLY THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED DURING THESE INCIDENTS. UPDATED 3/9/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10150445

Incident

Sep 7, 2005

Mileage

68,600 mi

CAR ISL STUCK ACCELERATING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10148966

Incident

Jan 30, 2006

DRIVING IN HEAVY RAINS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY WIPERS JUST STOPPED. I HAD TO BREAK HEAVY AND GET OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I WAITED UNTIL THE RAIN SUBSIDED AND THEN DROVE HOME. THE NEXT MORNING THEY WORKED OKAY AND AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES STOPPED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS CONSTANTLY AND I DON'T KNOW IF AND WHEN OR HOW LONG THEY WILL WORK. *NM

NHTSA ID

10146259

Incident

Dec 8, 2005

I HAVEN'T GOTTEN INTO ANY ACCIDENTS, BUT I'M AFFRAID I WILL. THE RECALL OUT THERE RIGHT NOW HAVING TO DO WITH THE ABS AND BRAKE SYSTEM, I FEEL THE SAME IS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE, BUT SINCE IT'S A 1998 WITH 96000 MILES ON IT, NO ONE WILL HELP ME OUT. MY VEHICLE DOES THE EXACT SAME DESCRIPTION THAT THE RECALL DESCRIBES. I UNFORTUNATELY CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX IT AT THIS TIME AND IT'S PRETTY SCARY HAVING TO DRIVE OUT THERE KNOWING THAT IT'S POSSIBLE I MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WAS PRETTY DISAPPOINTED THAT GMC WOULD NOT HELP IN SOLVING THE ISSUE. EVEN JUST TO HELP OUT IN THE COST A LITTLE BIT WOULD BE HELPFUL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10145985

Incident

Sep 30, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED ONLY WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD, BUT STILL DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE DELAY RAN AS THOUGH IT WAS ON NORMAL. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS . ALSO, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE NOT WORKED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. SHE HAS REPLACED THE BULBS, FUSE, AND CHECKED THE ELECTRONIC SENSOR. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. *AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10144664

Incident

Dec 1, 2004

THIS MAY NOT BE A HUGE COMPLAINT OR IMPORTANT. NONETHELESS, I OWN A 1998 GMC JIMMY. I READ THE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH MY TRUCK. MY QUESTION IS, HOW CAN I GET MY TRUCK LOOKED AT OR FIXED WITHOUT ANY COST TO ME? *NM

NHTSA ID

10144620

Incident

Dec 1, 2005

MANUAL RECLINE BAR ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEATS BROKE. THE FIRST INCIDENCE HAPPENED ON DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BEFORE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED (PRE-OWNED VEHICLE). VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND SO BAR WAS REPLACED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE RECLINE BAR BROKE A SECOND TIME APPROXIMATELY 3-4 YEARS LATER. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE RECLINE BAR ALSO BROKE APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR AFTER THAT. BECAUSE THE SEAT WAS IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WHEN THE RECLINE BAR BROKE ON ANY OF THE OCCASIONS, HAD THE SEAT BEEN IN A RECLINED POSITION, THE SEAT POSSIBLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN USABLE. THE RECLINE BARS ON BOTH SIDE HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED, AS THE COST IS OVER $200 FOR EACH PART. *NM

NHTSA ID

10140932

Incident

May 10, 2002

DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE MOTOR FAILED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAD BEEN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY FOR PAST THREE MONTHS. WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THERE WAS A RECALL BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS GOING TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AT HIS OWN EXPENSE, BUT HE FELT VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10140796

Incident

Aug 19, 2005

Mileage

104,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING IN MEXICO LAST NOV 18TH 2004 -JAN 1ST 2005 I WAS DRIVING ON BUMPY ROADS AND HIGH USAGE OF BRAKES ON POOR ROADS . ABS FAILED AND WHEN I HIT PAVED ROADS THE BRAKES CAME BACK TO LIKE NEW SYSTEM, THEN IN JULY OF THIS YEAR I WAS DRIVING DOWN DIRT ROAD AND WENT AROUND A CORNER AND IT WAS LIKE I HAD NO BRAKES AGAIN I WANT THE ABS REMOVED FROM ALL OF MY CARS NOW IT IS A BAD SYSTEM . I AM A TRAINED DRIVER I HAVE SUB CONTRACTED TO KELLY HAZE AS A ABS RECORDER FOR NEW VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10140050

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

135,000 mi